You Won't Die of Thirst
The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”
But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
Exodus Chapter 17: 1 – 3 {King James Version}
In this verse, we see the Israelites as they journey through the wilderness, traveling and camping as God led them. They made camp at Rephidim, but there was no water there. Instead of praying for what they needed, they immediately turned on God and His spokesperson - Moses.
Would God have brought the Israelites so far to let them die of thirst in the desert? Would He have gone to all the trouble them out of Egypt if He meant to desert them, leaving their bodies littered in the wilderness? Let’s take a look at some of the things God did to bring the Israelites to this point:
- Sent increasingly devastating plagues to the Egyptians each time Pharaoh refused to free the children of Israel
- Visiting the Egyptians with a final plague that was so devastating, Egyptians practically ran the Israelites out of town.
- Sent an east wind that blew all night, opening the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk in between the towering watery walls.
- Destroying the Egyptians that followed after them
- Providing the Israelites with supernatural food in a dry land – quails and manna
Would God do all that, only to have them die of thirst? Their freedom was assured; their lives were safe; they were on their way to the Promised Land, yet they were ready to turn around and go back to Egypt because they had no water to drink.
The Israelites journey to deliverance is also mirrored in our journey to salvation. Consider all the things Jesus went through for us:
- Arraigned before Pontius Pilate on trumped up charges.
- Beaten viciously and strung up on a cross where he hung as people walked by, making fun of Him, some even spitting on Him.
- Stripped of His clothes, which the soldiers split among themselves
- Crucified between two thieves like a common criminal
- Humiliated by the soldiers and given vinegar to drink when He asked for water
What was the goal of all this suffering? He did it for us. For our salvation.
If God freely gave us His only Son, and allowed Him to suffer so much for our sake, will He hold anything back from those that ask? God knows what we need and He will supply all our needs. In His own time. In His own way.
Let’s stop judging God’s faithfulness by the things that are ‘missing’ from our lives. Think about all He has done to get you where you are right now. Realize that there is a plan for your life. Understand that He will bring it to pass.
Keep pressing. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. The door WILL open! He won’t let you die of thirst.
Onyih Odunze
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